NEWS

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs following the resignation of Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to pursue his 2027 political ambitions.The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.Before her new role, Odumegwu-Ojukwu served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.In a related move, President Tinubu has nominated Sola Enikanolaiye as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, pending confirmation by the Senate.Enikanolaiye, a seasoned diplomat from Kogi State, previously served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. With over 30 years in Nigeria’s foreign servic...

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced an extension of the 2026 Direct Entry (DE) registration, shifting the deadline to May 8, 2026.The decision, according to JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, is aimed at giving more eligible candidates the opportunity to complete their registration and gain access to tertiary education.Benjamin explained that the move aligns with the board’s commitment to making the admission process more inclusive and accessible across the country.To ease congestion in high-demand areas, JAMB also approved five additional registration centres. These include facilities at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State; Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State; Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State; th...

Popular socialite and businessman, Cubana Chief Priest, has announced his intention to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives under the All Progressives Congress (APC).He made the declaration in a video shared online after visiting the APC secretariat in Imo State, where he informed party officials of his ambition to represent the Orsu, Orlu, and Oru East Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections.In his message, he said he had formally communicated his plans to party leaders, who in turn expressed support for his aspiration. He added that his goal is to serve his people, noting that he is leaving everything in God’s hands.During the visit, a party official commended his versatility, describing him as someone who has successfully combined roles as a business...

The Senior Pastor of Streams of Joy International and convener of NSPPD, Jerry Eze, has spoken out about the emotional toll of a money laundering investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).Eze revealed that the probe left him deeply distressed, recounting how he often broke down in tears each morning while driving to lead his NSPPD prayers.The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, had earlier disclosed that the cleric was investigated for six months over alleged money laundering. Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, he confirmed that no wrongdoing was found, and Eze was subsequently cleared.Reacting to the development, Eze described the intense pressure he faced during the period, noting that he repeatedly questioned why he was under investigation despite maintaini...

The World Health Organization has reported that Nigeria and nine other countries accounted for the majority of global hepatitis deaths in 2024.In its 2026 global hepatitis report, the WHO said hepatitis B and C, responsible for about 95 percent of hepatitis-related deaths, killed approximately 1.34 million people in 2024, with around 1.8 million new infections recorded annually.According to the report, countries including Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa and Vietnam accounted for 69 percent of hepatitis B-related deaths worldwide. Nigeria also featured among the top contributors to hepatitis C-related deaths, alongside countries such as China, India, Pakistan, Russia and the United States.Globally, an estimated 287 mil...

The United States Department of State has announced plans to release a limited-edition commemorative passport to mark America’s 250th anniversary, featuring an image of Donald Trump, a move that would make him the first sitting president to appear in a U.S. passport.According to officials, between 25,000 and 30,000 of the special passports will be issued, with availability expected shortly before July 4 at the Washington passport office. While these will be the default option for in-person applicants there, standard passports will still be available through other application routes.The commemorative passport will include customised artwork while retaining standard security features. Trump’s image will appear on an interior page alongside a gold version of his signature, while the c...

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that the agency once investigated Jerry Eze, founder of Streams of Joy International, over alleged fraud.Speaking on Wednesday at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja, Olukoyede disclosed that the probe lasted six months and focused on suspected money laundering before the cleric was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.According to him, the investigation was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions highlighting unusual inflows of foreign currencies into Eze’s domiciliary account.“We act based on intelligence and petitions. At a point, we noticed an account receiving heavy inflows—dollars and pounds coming in from countries like Colombia, the United...

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed Mahmoud Isa Yugudu as a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).The confirmation was carried out on Wednesday during plenary at the National Assembly in Abuja, after the Senate considered a report presented by its Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions.Chairman of the committee, Adetokunbo Abiru, stated that the nominee showed strong competence and relevant experience during the screening process.“We carefully screened the nominee and found him worthy of the position,” he said.

Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has reiterated his intention to run for a second term, brushing aside what he described as coordinated efforts by political opponents to unseat him.In a firm and defiant statement, the president presented himself as steadfast despite rising criticism and alleged political maneuvering.“They tried to remove me, but I stood my ground. I am a very stubborn politician,” he said. “I will contest for a second term, and I will win.”Tinubu also accused unnamed rivals, including some former allies, of taking advantage of the country’s security challenges to undermine his administration and pursue their own political ambitions.“You were drawn into the plans of certain groups, including my old adversaries, who want to use insecurity as a tool to ...